Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women
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Winter 2018 Volume 27 Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women TAB LE OF CONTENTS Inspiring Nuns in Arunachal Pradesh by Dominique Butet, with Kate Bennett Visakha: The Chief Female Benefactor of the Buddha by Asoka Bandarage From Rape Texts to Bro Buddhism: Critical Canonical and Contemporary Perspectives on the Sex Abuse Scandals in Western Buddhism by Sarah H. Jacoby Disability, Illness, and Dharma: A Tale of Three Lives by Lynn Merrill Weyman Women in Mongolian Buddhist Culture by Altantsetseg Jadamba Buddhist Prevention of Mental Disorders by Geshe Tenzin Kunsel Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: “Multiple Belonging” by Eleanor Pontoriero INSPIRING NUNS IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH News from the Garden by Dominique Butet, with Kate Bennett by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo Sakyadhita Germany Meets Again Beyond the snow-covered passes, the far-off places of Arunachal Pradesh felt like jewels hidden by Rotraut (Jampa) Wurst in golden boxes. As we moved beyond the Brahmaputra riverscape, we slowly left behind the warmth of rice paddies. Gradually, banana and palm trees disappeared from view. We reached A Nuns’ Leadership Program the Sela Pass after a twelve-hour drive. At the top the pass, 13,700 feet high, a path stretched before by Khenmo Drolma us along a glistening frozen lake that led to a wonderful land nestled between Tibet and Bhutan. Living Vinaya in the West: Taiwanese In this land, the region of Tawang, green slopes mingled with deep forests and pristine streams Vinaya Master Teaches plunged down steep gorges into turbulent rivers. at Sravasti Abbey Located in the western region of Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast of India, Tawang is home by Bhiksuni Thubten Chonyi to the distinctive Monpa people and their culture. Historically, the Tibetan word “Mon” referred News to the indigenous tribes of Bhutan and southern Tibet. The Monpas became separated from their Tibetan cousins in 1914, when the British drew the MacMahon Line along the high ridges of the Himalayas, demarcating a border with Tibet. The Monpas were subsumed into the British Raj and eventually into Arunachal Pradesh, the 24th state of India. Nevertheless, Monpa culture has been preserved up until the present, largely thanks to the political and social activities of the 13th Tsona Gontse Rinpoche. Not only did this respected lama maintain close relations with the Indian government, but he also created many schools. These schools include Shanti Deva in Bomdila and the Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies in Dahung. Today, these schools have a total of 280 students, including 80 monks and 23 nuns. At the beginning of the 20th century, the 12th Tsona Gontse Rinpoche founded a nunnery in the village of Singsur, located about 20 kilometers from Tawang. At that time, three hermit nuns who Sakyadhita were practicing there approached him to request his support. joined her aunt with the approval of her family at the age of Touched by their devotion, the 12th Tsona Gontse Rinpoche twelve. Academically talented, she had been studying for six agreed to help them build a nunnery on the grassy slopes of years in Dahung and was starting her final year before university. Lhou Village. In his next rebirth, the 13th Tsona Rinpoche again She hoped to continue her studies and become a teacher. Tsering assisted the nuns and the community has continued to grow. admitted to having thought about becoming a geshema, but this Singsur Nunnery is currently home to 44 nuns. The nunnery new and long curriculum would be daunting, and such a choice consists of a number of small dwellings called shaks that have depended on her aunt’s finances. “Education is as important as been constructed around the temple. These dwellings are built rice in life,” she stated with conviction. Genden Lhamu agreed. on stone foundations and have cement-reinforced bamboo walls. She had recently completed her Master’s degree in Buddhist Each adult nun lives with and supports up to three younger nuns. philosophy, closing four years of higher education in Delhi. In these dwellings we discovered the power of “aunties,” who The joyful Thupten Choezom, 25 years old, was in charge of not only take care of and educate their “nieces,” but also perform leading the chanting and prayers during rituals, thus fulfilling essential responsibilities. These include growing vegetables, the function of umze. She was able to join her great-aunt at preparing their own meals, collecting wood for rigorous winters, Singsur Nunnery at the age of 13. However, she did not have the and performing rituals in the villages to help earn money for opportunity to study beyond the fifth grade. In fact, her great- their subsistence. In this way, they also ensure that villagers have aunt had decided that it would be in her best interest to memorize access to Buddhist practices throughout the year in their own the ritual texts so she would not lose her traditional culture. homes. These nuns also play a vital role in maintaining Buddhist Thupten Choezom, who led all the rituals with her inspiring traditions in the Tawang region, showing great devotion by voice, claimed to be happy. “And the most important thing in life giving all their remaining time to spiritual practice. is to be happy, right?” she added as evidence. Nevertheless, since Sometimes the nuns’ families help them build their shaks, becoming a “nun-teacher,” she was in charge of two young nuns: but this is not always the case. As 58-year-old Jambey Chozom 13-year-old Pema, who was continuing her secular schooling in explained: seventh grade, and a 19-year-old nun who is studying at Dahung. “It’s also very important to be well educated,” Thupten Choezom When my parents died, I was 11 years old, so I had to take said, concluding our conversation with a burst of laughter. care of my four brothers and sisters. I ran away twice to Knowing how crucial education is for the future of her nunnery, join the nunnery, because I clearly wanted to become a nun, Genden Lhamu was pleased when a qualified monk scholar but my family made me feel guilty about this decision. At (geshe) arrived. The geshe had come to teach for two years in the age of 25, I finally succeeded and, I went to live with Singsur at Genden Lhamu’s invitation. The other two nunneries my nun teacher at Singsur. Then nine years ago, I built my of Tawang have also benefitted from this kind of precious help. own shak with the money I earned during rituals and now But Genden Llamu has even bigger plans for her community. I can take care of my three nieces. Her dream is to create a monastic college (shedra). By offering both religious as well as modern subjects such as math and Genden Lhamu, who was in charge of supplies at the nunnery, English, the nuns could continue their studies after primary was also the resource person who opened the doors of the school without going to Dahung. This would also serve older shaks and gave us access to the nuns’ touching stories. She nuns of the community who were unable to receive a secular had recently completed an extensive research project on all of education and are beyond the age to do so now. Tawang’s nunneries. This 27-year-old woman has been a nun To this end, Genden Lhamu has created an association that is in since the age of nine and was then serving in the rotating role the process of completing the administrative registration in Delhi. of nyerpa (storekeeper) for one year. She was quick-witted and She will thus be able to raise funds to pay the salaries necessary totally dedicated to the community. In June 2017, she attended the for good teachers and to recruit a geshema to ensure that the nuns 15th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist women in receive a quality education. Reluctant to continue her studies and Hong Kong and presented a paper about the nuns of Northeast start a PhD, Genden Lhamu is certain that she would eventually India. She, too, had shown great tenacity in becoming a nun like to teach either Tibetan or English. She is highly motivated, as because her family was not in favor of this choice at first. Since evidenced by the fact that she had managed to have three young her parents refused her decision, she escaped from the house nuns admitted to Thupten Choeling Monastery’s Balika School, at the age of nine and hid under a large tree planted outside the located below Singsur Nunnery. Founded in 2015, as a project of village. Her family looked for her all night and when she was the 13th Tsona Rinpoche, and with the agreement of the Indian finally found, Genden Lhamu refused to go back home. Her government, this school welcomes 100 girls from kindergarten parents finally understood that her decision to be a nun was up to third grade. The school plans to open a new class each irrevocable. They agreed that she would live at the nunnery in her year, eventually offering education up to eighth grade, with six great-aunt’s shak, while recommending that she be careful never teachers who would teach classes in Tibetan, English, Hindi, to disrobe. Her father’s advice was: “Become a nun, but never mathematics, environmental studies, and Buddhist philosophy, come back.” Although he was attached to the family’s reputation, all in a pleasant and serene environment conducive to studying. he was equally concerned about his daughter’s happiness. This enthusiasm for education was not a privilege solely for Fortunately, it was easier for 25-year-old Tsering Dolma, who young nuns.